Kennedy issues a call to service

During his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy issued a challenge to the American people: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

It was good advice then and it's even better advice now as the nation grapples with problems of poverty, environmental threats, health care costs and education reform.

So nearly five decades later, the late president's brother, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., is issuing a similar, but more specific challenge by introducing a sweeping new national service bill aimed at recruiting 175,000 Americans - from schoolchildren to college graduates to baby boomers - to do service work.

The bill, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, builds on initiatives of previous administrations and would provide about $5 billion over five years to encourage citizen involvement in community organizations.

It is fitting that the first major piece of legislation filed by Kennedy since he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, has been crafted to appeal to both parties. Kennedy's skill at finding bipartisan common ground has been well documented. This bill is meant to marry the two parties' often competing approaches to community service. It encourages volunteerism advocated by both parties while providing federal assistance sought by Democrats.

The new corps members would be paid modest stipends to spend a year working for community service organizations. Kennedy's bill would broaden the base of potential volunteers, involving people of all ages.

The Kennedy-Hatch plan, for example, would give older baby boomers an opportunity to take time off for community service, perhaps inspiring them to choose a second career. Retired people would be eligible for an "encore fellowship to extend their service period by a year. And schoolchildren would be taught to incorporate a lifetime of service in their lives through participation in efforts like food drives.

Kennedy has issued a worthy call. It's one we hope will gain support of Congress.